Vitrine technologique

The life span of thrusters is a key parameter limiting the longevity of small satellites.

SiCluSat technology is a unique solution offering the enhancement of both live expectancy and performance enhancement.

Developed in Ecole Polytechnique in close cooperation with the Institute of combustion, aerothermics, reactivity et environment (ICARE), our special additive PEVCVD coating permits a significant decrease of the work function of the coated material. Thus, the thermionic cathode emissivity is significantly enhanced. It is also possible to decrease the operation temperature by several hundreds of °C without compromise on emissivity.
At the same time, the SiCluSat coating demonstrates excellent stability and provides protection of the thermionic cathode’s surface against erosion, enhancing its lifespan.

The SiCluSat coating is deposited in a PECVD reactor at low temperature using standard reaction gases, within several tens of minutes. The process recipe is protected by international patents and secret know-how.

• Significant enhancement of cathode emissivity thanks to our coating:
– Current density increases up to 30 times;
– Operation temperature decrease by up to 250°C;
– Work function reduction by 0.4eV for LaB6 cathodes.
• Cathode lifespan enhancement: the coating provides protection against cathode erosion.
• Additive coating: homogeneous film deposition by PECVD on flat surfaces or inside a cylindrical cathode (optimization and testing in progress).
• High stability of the coating at temperatures up to 1000°C.
• Low temperature and low-cost treatment.
• Applicable on a large variety of materials (Boride cathodes, e.g. LaB6; semiconductor materials , e.g., crystalline silicon ; oxides, metals …).

Any system using Electron Gun technology with thermionic cathodes:
– Thrusters for small satellites;
– Electron microscopes;
– Sterilization of surfaces, medical devices…